This year's theme for the Morgan County Relay for Life is "Boot Out Cancer."

That is the local variation on the American Cancer Society's national theme of "Finish the Fight," said Mandy Phillips, co-chair of the Morgan County Relay for Life Committee this year, during the annual kickoff for the event at the Fort Morgan Elks Club Saturday.

Those who are raising funds for the Relay this year picked the theme from three possible choices, she said.

The Relay signed up 18 teams that will raise funds to donate at the annual relay held at Legion Field. It will be held starting at 6 p.m. Friday, June 13, and run through 6 a.m. the next morning.

Erika Roberts, the other co-chair, said the team is shooting for 25 to 30 teams this year, and those who want to create a team can still sign up.

"We want to live in a world that's cancer free," Roberts said.

About one in three people are affected by cancer, either through having it themselves, or by their friends or family having it, Phillips noted.

Funds raised by the Relay for Life are both used for research to find cures for various types of cancer or to provide assistance to those who are fighting cancer, she said.

Relay for Life officials find rides for people to medical appointments, arrange for hotel stays, provide wigs for those who have lost their hair and offer a beauty program called "Look Good, Feel Better," the co-chairs said.

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Officials also provide information and support to cancer victims, they said.

This year, 10 people are serving on the Relay committee, but it is looking for more to help with the many tasks that must be done to make the annual event happen. People can volunteer by calling Roberts at 970-380-0585 or Phillips at 970-768-1963.

Event Specialist Megan Clarkson encourages people to make sure they get cancer screenings regularly.

It may seem like a big deal to take a day off to get a colonoscopy, but getting a string of cancer treatments is even harder, she said.

Teams do fundraisers prior to the actual relay, and they will be held at various places around the county over the next few months.

The Cancer Crusaders team will hold a volleyball tournament at Fort Morgan High School on Jan. 25.

Nadia Rodriguez of the Happy Feets team will hold a yard sale at her home at 120 Cedar St. in Log Lane Village on Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. She usually does things like bake sales to raise funds.

Other teams are welcome to come to her home that day if they want to sell items to raise funds for the relay.

Rodriguez had cancer herself, so she knows what people suffer through, she said. She is cancer free now.

Phillips said the committee will hold a big event, kind of garage sale, at Fort Morgan's City Park on May 17. Teams can come and sell products for fundraising.

The Beta Epsilon sorority sells things like necklaces and purses made from men's ties all the time. Those are available by calling Gertie Chapin at 970-645-2316.

Vendors

The Relay committee also raised funds by having vendors from various companies and local artists sell products at booths during the kickoff, which also offered breakfast pastries, fruit and juice.

Many of the vendors gave a percentage of their profits to the committee.

Local resident Doris Craig held a silent auction for a sunshield, which is like a little tent that holds three people.

Tamla Sagel sold necklaces and watches plus a bright pink dreamcatcher that was also a clock as part of her Crystal Paradise Creations line. Sagel said she also sells the dreamcatchers in other colors, including natural colors. She said she donates most of the money to the cause. She can be reached at 970-867-7005.

The Wild Weldona Warriors make colored wreathes that reflect the different colors that represent various kinds of cancers, plus memorial T-shirts, said Cindy Musser. Those are available by calling 970-768-1574. They will also be for sale at the relay in June.

Melissa White of Fort Morgan was selling doTerra essential oil products. That name means "from the earth." She sells oils that can be rolled on the skin, put in water or used in a diffuser. She also sells lotions, laundry soaps and shampoo that are made from natural materials.

Stacey Fajardo of Fort Morgan, a consultant for Tastefully Simple, sold seasonings and bread and soup mixes.

Juice Plus representative Shera Kiess of Otis was selling Juice Plus capsules and gummies, which contain the nutrients from fruit, and are "the next best thing to fruit and vegetables," the sales literature says.

The supplements were developed by a doctor whose father had cancer and have had 16 years of clinical research, she said. Various blends offer the nutrients from orchard fruits, garden vegetables and vineyard crops like berries. She can be contacted at 970-630-4064.

There was also a booth for ACM, an all communication network which offers Primerica, a cell phone system. At the same booth the LnB Connector was offered. It helps connect small businesses.

Advocare was on hand to offer health products such as weight loss products that include energy drinks and drinks for electrolytes.

Nerium International was there to offer an anti-aging skin care line for men and women.

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